Finding Your Place as an Early Career Researcher. The Importance of Community, Balance, and the Long View

by Dr Sarah A. Walker, Assistant Professor, Durham University, UK

Being an early career academic (ECA) is an incredible mix of excitement and uncertainty. On one hand, there’s the energy of starting out in a field you love, the chance to explore new ideas, and the thrill of shaping your own research. On the other hand, there’s the unfortunate pressure of short-term contracts, the constant drive to “prove yourself,” and the juggling act of managing teaching, research, publishing, and service.

I’ve often described it as standing at a crossroads with a dozen paths in front of you, all of them potentially exciting, but only a small “carry on” bag of time, energy, and resources to carry. Which way do you go? How do you know what to take on, and what to leave behind for now?

Over the last few years, I’ve learned that there are three things that can make all the difference in navigating the ECA stage of our careers, and those things are: community, balance, and taking the long view.

The Power of Community

One of the most important lessons I’ve learned as an ECA is that you can’t do it alone. Academia can sometimes feel isolating, especially if you’re the only person working in your particular niche, in a small department, or on a short-term contract where you’re constantly moving.

Having a network of peers, mentors, and collaborators can be transformative. Community gives you people to celebrate wins with, to share opportunities and advice with, and to lean on when inevitable setbacks crush that day that had initially started off so well.

For me, communities have taken different forms at different times. I’ve joined societies like ISSID, where I’ve met people across the world who share my interests. Going to conferences, where casual conversations over coffee have turned into collaborations and friendships, and joining peer mentoring groups and writing circles, where the focus isn’t just productivity but connection.

If you’re an ECA reading this, I encourage you to actively build your network. It doesn’t have to be a huge, formal thing because sometimes it’s just finding one or two colleagues you can text when you’re having a rough day. Those small connections add up, and they make this journey far more sustainable and enjoyable.

Embracing Opportunities - Strategically

One of the great things about being an ECR is that the world feels wide open. There are conferences to attend, papers to write, projects to join, small grants to apply for, committees to serve on, events to help organise. It’s tempting to say “yes” to everything, especially when you want to show you’re engaged and capable.

Opportunities are incredibly valuable at this stage. They help you grow your professional identity, meet collaborators, and build the kind of experience that will serve you for years to come. Many of my favourite career moments so far have come from stepping into something new, even when it felt a little daunting.

But here’s the thing - you can’t do it all at once. And you don’t have to, and you shouldn’t.

The Challenge of Balance

So far in my career, I have wanted to accept every invitation and volunteer for every committee (and you’d be hard pressed to find me having said “no” to anything, if I’m honest). I didn’t want to miss out or let anyone down, and I am genuinely interested in everything – I love my job!! But I soon realised that overcommitting doesn’t just exhaust you but it can drain your ability to do the things you really care about well.

Learning to pause before saying yes is a skill. Now I ask myself (though not always successfully):

• Does this align with my long-term goals or values?

• Is this something I’m genuinely excited about, or am I just afraid of missing out?

• Do I have the time and capacity to do this properly?

If the answer is “no” to any of those, I’ve learned (sometimes the hard way) that it’s better to politely decline. Saying no to something now often means you can say yes to something more meaningful later.

Don’t Lose Sight of the Bigger Picture

One thing I’ve noticed in academia is that we often celebrate outputs (papers, grants, awards) but rarely talk about the process. It’s easy to feel like you’re behind because someone else has more publications or bigger grants.

But careers in research are marathons, not sprints. It’s the relationships you build, the skills you develop, and the communities you contribute to that make this career sustainable and enjoyable. Outputs matter, of course, but they’re not the whole story.

I’ve also learned that it’s okay to ask for help. Lean on your network, talk to mentors, and remember that you’re not the only one trying to figuring things out. Nobody has all the answers (even if it seems like they do). It’s also ok to have boundaries, to say “not right now” (a.k.a “no”), and to put yourself first when you need to.

A Word of Caution AND Encouragement

This isn’t a doom post! I wouldn’t trade my experiences as an ECA for anything. It’s an exciting stage where you get to explore, experiment, and find your place in a field you love.

But it’s also a stage where it’s easy to burn out if you try to do everything. My gentle warning is to be thoughtful about what you say yes to. Protect time for your own research, your own wellbeing, and the things that light you up. I admit to feeling like quite the hypocrite sharing this advice when I am not great at walking the walk, but I know it intellectually even if I am still working on the ‘practice’ of it.

And if you’re part of an organisation or society, remember how much it means when you value and support the ECAs in your community. We’re often balancing a lot and knowing that our contributions matter can make a huge difference.

Closing Thoughts

If you’re an ECR reading this then I hope you know that you’re doing better than you think. Build your network. Celebrate your wins, however small -did you get a revise and resubmit? That’s worthy of a coffee date with a friend! Be strategic about the opportunities you take on.

And remember, you don’t have to have it all figured out yet.

The ECA stage is where you learn, grow, and find your voice. It’s not always easy, but it’s also where you build the foundation for a career that can be rewarding in every sense of the word.

We are about to start an ECR initiative here at ISSID where we showcase the voices, research, and experiences of our ECA community – so please drop us a line and let us know What’s one thing that’s helped you thrive as an ECR?

Please use this link to send us your thoughts! https://durhamuniversity.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_71CMtQXdc9oRsZo